License readers aid Metro police

Metro Transit Police are using license plate readers mounted on police vehicles to identify stolen vehicles, car thieves and other suspected or wanted criminals, according to a statement from the agency.

Metro police have eight of the car readers in the force now, which "are helping to reduce crime in Metro parking facilities," Metro said. Officers have used them to verify vehicle registrations, help locate chop shops, and track crime trends, officials said. The reader system processes license plate numbers through local and national databases, and officers can use it to verify vehicle registrations.

Are chop shops being run out of Metro's parking facilities? Seems that there are other ways to detect such an operation without buying expensive new equipment with money that Metro should be using to buy safety switches for tracks, air conditioners for trains, working motors for train doors, clocks for stations, and fare charts and signage for Metro stations!

Are chop shops being run out of Metro's parking facilities? How exactly will this fancy and expensive new equipment put a stop to such operations? Seems to me, that Metro could/would/should use ever available dollar to upgrade it's safety switches, repair non-working door motors and HVAC on trains, and put up some signage in stations so customers know where they are and how much to pay for a dang ride!! Of course, the elevator and escalator repair and rehab program needs every red cent Metro can find. A few working clocks in stations might be nice also, since the new fare scheme is so heavily dependent on what time of day a passenger's trip begins. The clock at Arlington Courthouse station has not worked in well over two weeks.